Why the Fireplace is an Important Part of a Green Home

Last week we had Clay Dennis of Southern Hearth and Patio come and talk to us about fireplaces. He had a lot of important things to say, and here’s what we learned:

The fireplace is the only part of a home that we try to catch on fire. So being smart means we not only understand how to avoid burning down the house, it means we know the environmental, health and structural impact of the fireplace.

Whether you are burning wood or gas, you are utilizing three main ingredients to produce fire—fuel, heat and air. And depending on the fireplace installed in your home, you could be burning indoor air filled with pet dander and hair, deodorizers, mold, dust mites, pesticides and VOCs. Breathing this stuff causes health concerns, and burning it inside your home can be harmful as well. Which is why your fireplace should be directly vented to the outside where it can pull in air and release the byproducts.

One of the byproducts of burning fossil fuel (propane or natural gas) is CO2 and H2 which leads to increased H20. For instance, burning propane (C4H8) will produce one gallon of water for every gallon of fuel burned. Over time, this can cause problems for the structure of your home—such as mold, mildew and rot damage. And it is yet another reason why your fireplace should be vented to the outside. With a direct vent fireplace, there is no interaction between house air and the fireplace air.

From a sustainability standpoint, it is also important to evaluate the efficiency and environmental impact of fireplaces. Are we burning more fuel—wood or gas—than necessary? And are there cleaner kinds of fuel to burn?

Well, there are two particularly important innovations that have reduced fuel consumption. The E.P.A. rated wood burning fireplaces use 30% less fuel, can heat multiple areas at once and have 90% less ecological impact due to higher combustion temperatures. And these fireplaces burn cleaner by controlling combustion and secondary air—they reuse their own gas byproducts as fuel.

And because of rising gas prices, pellet fireplaces have recently gained in popularity as well. Pellet fuel technology uses cheap fuel made with 100% pre-consumer recycled content, burns fuel as needed only, and produces ultra low emissions. Pellets are made from wood waste generated in saw mills. And they can also be made of cornstalks, straw, and wastepaper. Because pellets are dispensed into the firebox automatically, you can achieve a slow, continuous burn and control temperatures and fuel consumption.

So whether it is time for you to make the switch to a new more efficient fireplace or just have your existing fireplace put in order, make sure you think through the varying effects a fireplace has on your home. And if you have questions, talk to Southern Hearth and Home’s Clay Dennis, NFI Certified in Wood and Pellet Bio-mass.